Meet Our Team

Doctors

Dr. Kate Smith, DVM, Leadership Team

Kate Smith aka "Smitty" graduated from CSU, College of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. In spring of 2017 she joined AUC as a veterinarian. However, she has worked at AUC since 2011 as a veterinary assistant and owes her success in veterinary school to the wonderful support of all the staff at AUC. Dr. Smith is a Colorado native and loves cheering for and watching the Buffs and Broncos. When she's not working, she enjoys horseback riding, running, hiking, and hanging out with her crazy special needs cat, Todd.

Dr. James Haught with Molly, a chicken and a baby goat

Dr. James Haught, DVM, Medical Director, Park Hill

Dr. James Haught attended CSU to obtain his undergraduate and veterinary degree. He graduated veterinary school in 2012. Originally James is from Del Norte, Colorado, a rural small farming and ranching community in the San Luis Valley. Prior to joining Animal Urgent Care, he worked in a busy general and emergency practice that saw a wide range of animals from horses to cats. His passion for helping animals and their owners at their most difficult time brought him to Arvada. In his free time, he enjoys volunteering with 4-H/FFA organizations, judging livestock shows, skiing, and competing in herding with his Australian Shepherds, Molly & Pearl.

Dr. Sarah Lovell with Nermal — Sarah Lovell with Nermal

Dr. Sarah Lovell, DVM, Medical Director, Arvada

Dr. Sarah Lovell was born, raised and obtained her undergraduate degree in her hometown of Dillon, Montana. She was accepted into the veterinary program at CSU and graduated in 2014. From the age of 15 until graduating vet school, she worked as a small animal technician.

Upon graduation, Dr. Lovell moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where she worked as a small animal emergency veterinarian at specialty practice. In 2016, she joined the staff of Animal Urgent Care. Her veterinary interests include emergency surgery and trauma stabilization. Her personal interests include any activity that gets her outdoors and spending time with her two yorkies and one cat.

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Dr. Kimberly Drake, DVM

Dr. Kimberly Drake is originally from northwest Ohio and graduated from George Mason University in 2010 with a Bachelors in Biology. She chose to attend St George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine located on the island of Grenada and graduated in 2015. Dr. Drake also had the pleasure of completing her Veterinary Clinical year in Dublin, Ireland while completing her veterinary degree. Client education is very important to Dr. Drake, as it was something she felt was lacking with her own family pets’ care as a child. She is also passionate about urgent care and practicing preventative medicine, as it can truly help your pets live longer and healthier lives. Other areas of veterinary medicine she also enjoys are ophthalmology, cardiology, and dental care. Dr. Drake enjoys ANY outdoor activities, spending time with family and friends, meeting new people, traveling, as well as cooking (and eating)! She and her husband, Dr. Smith have two dogs named Dodger and Radar, and two cats named Cheddar and Brie.

Some Amazing New Doctors…

• Dr. Yolanda Dacal Lopez

• Dr. Kate Eaker

• Dr. Kira Ellsasser

• Dr. Lindsay MacDonald

Support Staff

Kate Parker - Operations Manager Arvada, Park Hill, and Brighton

Kate is the Hospital Manager of AUC. She grew up in Philadelphia, and graduated from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. In 2009, she moved to Denver and began working at AUC. With Dr. Liz's support and mentorship, Kate began to realize her passions were leading her to a managerial role, and she began directing her efforts to learning about practice management. In 2019, the team nominated Kate for the VECCS Practice Manager of the Year Award, which she went on to win. 2019 also afforded her the opportunity to become a partner in the practice. Kate has begun to develop an interest in public speaking with regards to mental health and wellness within the field. Her passion is to cultivate and grow her co-workers into their best selves. Kate lives in North Arvada with two scruffy terrier mixes (acquired through AUC, of course), Tibbs and Milo.

Wendy Butler, CVT, Technician Manager, Park hill

Wendy joined AUC in 2019 as a Certified Veterinary Technician. She obtained her Associate of Science degree in Veterinary Technology from San Juan College. Prior to AUC, Wendy worked at an animal shelter, a general practice, and in a mixed general/emergency/specialty hospital. Wendy loves AUC because the focus is on the patient’s care and wellbeing. She enjoys being on a team of caring, dedicated individuals. Outside of work, Wendy enjoys volunteering for the Downtown Aquarium. In her spare time, she loves spending time with family, friends, her three cats, and being outside!

Devin Gallo, Inventory Manager, Park Hill

Devin started out in shelter medicine with a focus on Puerto Rico. She loves to get out help the community shelter programs. She has participated in 3 spay-a-thons in Puerto Rico and plans to do as many as she can. Devin has two Puerto Rican rescue pups. She also is currently attending the Community College of Denver where she is pursuing her Associates of Applied Science to become a CVT.

Morgan Curry, Veterinary Assistant Manager, Park Hill

Morgan grew up in a small town outside of Washington D.C, and then a small town outside of Dallas, TX. She moved to Colorado to study animal science at Colorado State University. After she graduated, she decided to further her interest in veterinary medicine. Morgan just recently joined the AUC team to experience emergency medicine. In the coming years, Morgan plans to apply to veterinary school. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, running, riding horses, and playing sports.

Heather Michel, Reception Manager, Arvada

Heather is originally from Buffalo, NY, and moved to Colorado for work about 7 years ago. Initially teaching grades 5-12 for several years and training dogs as a side hobby, she realized that her passion extended to animals and a career change was initiated. After starting her veterinary reception career within a high-volume, low-cost veterinary practice, she transitioned smoothly into emergency veterinary medicine and enjoys the fast-paced environment that AUC can often provide.

Heather has two senior Pugs at home that she spoils rotten and loves traveling and going on road trips, utilizing her free time away from vet med to see as many of the beautiful locales in Colorado and surrounding states as possible.

Stephanie Scott, Technician

Stephanie is a CO native that graduated from Vet Tech Institute in 2014. She started off working in general practice in Houston, Texas as a kennel tech and worked her way up to a veterinary technician. She then moved back to Colorado in 2015 for hiking and camping with her dogs and worked in ophthalmology for 6 months. She decided to go back to general practice and was the lead surgery tech and practice manager for 3 years. Stephanie took an interest in emergency medicine and began working at AUC in August 2019.

Holly Breesman, Technician

Holly was one of our beloved technicians at AUC from 2014-2021, when she suffered a medical event that ended her life unexpectedly. She touched thousands of lives, both furry and human in her time with us. If you visit our hospital, you may notice a photo of her in the lobby, smiling and happy at the top of Mt. Bierstadt in Colorado. She was an avid hiker as well as an incredible sister, daughter, and aunt. We miss her more than we can say, and we have committed to keeping her helpful spirit of “I got you!” alive and well within ourselves.

Jori Hill, CVT, Technician Manager Arvada

Jori relocated from Oakley, CA to Denver, CO in 2017. She began working in Veterinary Emergency Medicine right away while attending school at Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology. Her deep passion for wildlife took her to Virginia for an internship with wildlife rehabilitation for 3 months. Her love for emergency medicine is ultimately what brought her back to CO to practice as a CVT in 2019. Jori often goes camping with her dog buddy Sir during the warmer months and enjoys nights in front of the fireplace reading with her cats during the colder months.

Casey Elliott, CVT

Casey moved to Colorado from Maine in 2009 and graduated from Bel-Rea Institute in 2011 with an AAS in Veterinary Technology. After 3 years of working as a certified veterinary technician (CVT) with small and exotic animals, she made the switch to a full-time emergency and critical care technician. Casey loves her job in emergency medicine so much she is currently submitting her application for specialty certification in emergency and critical care (VTS ECC). She lives by the phrase "treating your pets as though they are our own." In 2019 Casey won NVA's West Division Technician of the Year Award. When she is not at work, you can find her in the theater, traveling, outdoor adventuring, and volunteering.

Ashley Stone, CVT

Ashley is a Colorado native. She graduated from Bel-Rea Institute in 2017 and started her career in a small general practice She quickly realized her passion is emergency medicine and has spent the last 3 years working in a general practice/emergency hospital as an overnight technician. Ashley started on overnights at AUC in Winter 2020. She has two crazy cattle dogs and loves to paint and read in her free time.

Jeslin Provost, Technician

Jeslin Provost was born and raised in CO and has ten years of experience in Veterinary Medicine.

She has worked in animal shelters, general practices, wildlife rehab, and ER medicine and prides herself on being well-rounded. Jeslin made the very difficult decision of leaving shelter medicine to join AUC in March of 2022, but does not regret it one bit and loves how much she is learning and growing as a technician. Jeslin is currently in school to get her official credentials to become a CVT after being an unlicensed technician for 6 years. Outside of work, Jeslin is a company member and teacher to a rowdy group of elementary aged kids at an Indian dance studio in CO. She enjoys gardening, anything art/ performance art related, and spending time with her partner and 6 pets. She has three cats named Dante, Ophelia, and Jimmy and two senior dogs named Caspian and Astrid.

Savannah Ross, CVT

Savannah is a Colorado native. She was born and raised on the western slope. She attended Colorado Mountain College in Glenwood Springs, where she graduated with an AAS in Veterinary Technology in 2015. Savannah has spent most of her career in emergency medicine but has also done high-volume spay and neuter clinics and shelter medicine. She recently moved to the Denver area with a desire to return to emergency medicine. She enjoys outdoor activities with her two dogs, Pebbles and Paisley, as well as helping her favorite nonprofits and occasional wine glass painting. Her love and affinity for animals not only extends to her career here at AUC but also to her work with The Pauline S. Schneegas Wildlife Foundation in Silt, Co. Despite the travel distance, she still finds the time to fundraise, as well as transport any animals that need to be transported on her trips to and from the western slope.

Nina Blanchard, Veterinary Assistant

Nina is a Colorado native and just recently started her career in veterinary medicine. She graduated from Pima Medical Institute in February 2020. Nina spent time in shelter medicine but decided that she needed a more face paced environment. Nina joined the AUC team in Summer 2020. She has two crazy cats, a sassy dog, and a guinea pig, who are all rescues. Nina spends her free time fishing and spending the day at the dog park.

Grace Gallagher, Veterinary Assistant

Grace is a Colorado native and has grown up with all kinds of animals. She recently graduated with a BS in biology with a minor in chemistry from Kansas Wesleyan University, where she also played collegiate softball. She has a lot of experience with zoo medicine and is new to emergency medicine. In the coming years, Grace plans to attend school to become a veterinarian. Grace has a golden retriever, a cat, and a ferret. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and pets.

Lacey Matusik, Veterinary Assistant Manager, Arvada

Lacey grew up in the suburbs of Washington D.C. where she studied geology at James Madison University. In 2015, she moved to Colorado and took the first job she found as a receptionist for an animal clinic. She immediately realized she wanted to work with animals. She joined the AUC team in 2019 and has been working as both a receptionist and assistant. She plans on earning her CVT and hopes to start school by the end of the year. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, cooking, and collecting vintage records.

Sabrina Litzelman, Veterinary Assistant Manager at Arvada

Sabrina is a Colorado native and has grown up around all sorts of animals. After spending time with rescue dogs and show dogs around the country, she decided to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. She graduated with her Bachelors in Biomedical Sciences in 2018 and has been working in general practice and emergency veterinary clinics since 2016. Sabrina joined AUC in Winter 2020 as an overnight assistant. She hopes to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine and become a veterinarian. In her free time, she likes to relax with some yoga or sunbathing on the porch with her French Bulldog.

Savannah Yslas,CVT

Savannah is originally from California but has called Colorado her home for the past seven years. She graduated from CSU with her bachelor's degree in 2018, and obtained her CVT from Bel-Rea in 2022. She has a background in raising livestock and LOVES emergency medicine. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her dog, Douglas, and painting.

Jade Kibler, Veterinary Assistant

Jade was born and raised in Colorado and has been with AUC since Spring 2017. Jade is currently a senior at Colorado State University getting her bachelors in microbiology. After graduation, Jade hopes to study veterinary medicine and one day become a DVM. Outside of work and school, Jade likes to volunteer her time to multiple organizations, ride her own mustang and spend time with her family and pets.

Rita Turner, CVT, Receptionist

Rita Turner, CVT, came to the veterinary field as a third career, after a long period in association management and then several years teaching at local colleges. Even though it took a while to get here, she feels she has found her real passion at Animal Urgent Care, helping people while their beloved pets are going through a crisis. At AUC, Rita can be found manning the reception desk every weekend and a few weeknights. Rita is a Colorado native, and enjoys living with her husband Frank and cockapoo “Angus” in Golden, especially when she is visited by her children and grandchildren!

Anna Kolman, Receptionist

Anna was born and raised in Colorado and has always had a passion for animals. Anna has had many jobs in the food service industry but has always wanted a career in veterinary medicine, so was excited when she found AUC was hiring. She really enjoys her job and loves being able to help the animals and their families during their time here. During her free time, she enjoys riding her two horses, Scooter and Skye, with her 7-year-old daughter Callie. Anna also has two border collie heeler mixes named Scout and Nala, who keep her on her toes.